Disability Rights are the civil and human rights that protect disabled people’s equal participation in all areas of life. In the United States these rights are codified through legislation such as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (especially §504), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and subsequent updates like the 2008 ADA Amendments Act. Internationally, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) affirms that disabled people are entitled to the full spectrum of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. At their core, disability rights uphold the principles of non-discrimination, equal opportunity, independent living, and full community integration, emphasizing that access is a matter of justice rather than charity.
Glossary Term